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Doctor accepts substantial libel damages

Newspaper apologises for untrue front page terrorism allegations

A doctor today accepted £115,000 libel damages over false allegations on the front page of The Sun that he was linked to terrorism.

In a statement in open court read today his solicitor, Leo Dawkins of Carter Ruck, told Mr Justice Eady that Dr Mohamed Asha had claimed in respect of an article published on the front page of The Sun and online under the heading, ‘Terror case doc works in casualty’.

Mr Dawkins went on to explain that ‘the purpose of this statement is to correct the false allegations made by the Defendant, namely that there were strong grounds to suspect that the Claimant would be involved in the future in terrorist bob plots and was, therefore, an ongoing threat to national security.’ Mr Dawkins told the Court that, ‘there is no truth whatsoever in these allegations’ and the publication had ‘been devastating for the Claimant, causing him immense damage both personally and professionally.’ He went on to say that ‘the Defendant made an offer of amends in which it accepted that the allegations complained of were entirely false and without foundation. The Defendant has now withdrawn the allegations, promised not to repeat them again, taken other articles down from its website and apologised to Dr Asha.’

The Sun, through its solicitor, Patrick Callaghan of Farrer & Co, confirmed what had been said by Mr Dawkins and offered ‘its sincerest apologies to Dr Asha for the damage it has caused.’